Another large-scale Hamilton COVID vaccine clinic will close to help ‘extremely strained health care system’

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Published January 24, 2022 at 11:55 am

Hamilton public health announced Monday (Jan. 24) that it will be closing another large-scale COVID-19 vaccine clinic this week as the city rethinks its vaccination approach.

The St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton vaccination clinic on West 5th will close Friday (Jan. 28) evening. It follows the closure of the Hamilton Health Sciences west end clinic on Jan. 17.

The City says the changes will help reallocate “much-needed resources within an extremely strained health care system.”

The clinics at Lime Ridge Mall and on Barton Street will have adjusted hours to meet current demands for vaccinations — with walk-in and appointment options available.

The City says long-term planning will be undertaken in the coming weeks towards the transition of their vaccination program towards a “longer-term sustainable model.”

81.3 per cent of the eligible population has received two doses of COVID vaccine and 86.4 per cent received at least one. Meanwhile, 46.8 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received a first dose.

“As the number of people remaining to be vaccinated becomes smaller and the community’s management of COVID-19 continues to evolve, Hamilton’s COVID-19 vaccine program will be shifting focus to ensure protection is equally distributed across populations and the community,” says public health.

Mobile vaccine clinics are attending local retirement homes to administer fourth doses to residents and third doses to staff. Mobile clinics will also be increasing access to eligible populations in the coming weeks.

Another large-scale Hamilton COVID vaccine clinic will close to help 'extremely strained health care system'

“In December, the expanded eligibility of third doses to 320,000 community members accounted for the most significant increase in eligibility we have seen to date in our COVID-19 vaccination campaign,” says public health. “Local physicians, nurses, pharmacists and non-clinical staff from a number of organizations, have brought the best of our community to light.”

Last month, Hamilton’s health care partners scaled up vaccination efforts and increased the number of doses administered from 2,500 doses to over 10,000 per day.

“I would like to thank our partners across the city and healthcare system for stepping up to get more COVID-19 doses in arms during a time of great need,” said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health. “With Omicron cases continuing to surge, it is an important time to transition the vaccine program to ensure that distribution is equal across eligible populations and within the community.”

“The best way community members can prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant of concern is to get fully vaccinated, and when eligible, get a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, keep their guards up by following the well-established public health measures including wearing a tight-fitting mask properly, maintaining physical distance, limiting their contacts and size of social gatherings, and staying home when they’re unwell,” she said.

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